By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), Feb. 15, GNA – Ghana’s telecommunication giant, MTN Ghana, has organised a blood donation exercise in the Upper West Region to beef up the blood banks in the region as an expression of love to humanity on Valentine’s Day.
The exercise was held at the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University (DHLTU) and SDD University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) in Wa, and the St. Francis Assisi Girls’ Senior High School in Jirapa concurrently.
The exercise produced 203 units of blood, which would be stocked at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Jirapa and the Wa Municipal and Upper West Regional Hospitals in Wa.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the DHLTU during the exercise, Mr Seth Owusu Nyamekye, the Upper West Regional Manager of MTN Ghana, said the region was contributing to a 6,100 units of blood target by the telecommunication company for the exercise.
He encouraged the public to inculcate the habit of voluntary blood donation, especially on occasions such as Valentine’s Day to show love to humanity.
It is worth noting that blood donors are issued Identity Cards, which they can use to access blood for themselves or their relatives in emergencies.
The exercise was under the MTN Foundation’s “Save a Life” project as part of the company’s efforts to contribute to creating a robust health system in Ghana.
Mr Nyamekye told the GNA that the initiative had, since its inception in 2011, donated about 29,000 units of blood for some hospitals across the country.
Mr Ahmed Sahel, the Blood Donor Organiser at the Upper West Regional Hospital, thanked MTN Ghana for the initiative and said it would help stock the blood bank for emergency service delivery.
“As we all know, the Regional Hospital is a referral centre for hospitals in the region … so we do whatever we can to always have blood in the hospital,” he explained.
Mr Sahel indicated that the hospital consumes at least 300 units of blood a month, most of which go into delivery cases.
He, therefore, entreated the public to walk voluntarily into health facilities to donate blood to help guarantee enough blood at the facilities.
Mr Cecil Akator, a student of the DHLTU who donated blood, said he was happy to be part of the exercise because he would be contributing to saving a life.
He described blood donation as a “lifesaving exercise” saying, “You donate today, tomorrow you are in need, and with the certificate or card in your hand, you are sure to be attended to.”
Ms Adeline Logurah, also a student of DHLTU, expressed joy in qualifying to donate on her second attempt and hoped to sustain that habit.
GNA